"Balthazar Of Bhagdad: A Magi's Story"

And we both listened eagerly to every bit of news we got from Judea, always expecting to hear of a new king who had taken power. We never did.

What we did hear was stories of a holy man who taught the people to love and to forgive one another, a man who promised God would forgive them. We heard stories of miracles, of him feeding thousands with very small amounts of food, of him calming a raging storm at sea, and our course, of him healing the sick--especially the blind. And we heard some of his stories, parables you call them. Then . . .

We learned he was killed on a cross, and some how his death opened the way for all people to come to the God of the Hebrews and be forgiven. It was then I understood both the shame and the happiness I felt in his presence. He came to give his life for me, I had intended only to give a token. As one of your wise men has said, "Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all." It was only in giving all that I found peace and happiness. I hope as you celebrate the birth of the King, you may be able to worship as I did, and you, too, may be able to give your all.

INVITATION (I had our Minister of Music give the Invitation):

Balthazar’s story, as you can tell, is not just the story of one person. It is also the story of how different people responded to the Hebrew prophecies and to the new king. Herod tried to use the prophecies to his own design, and failed. Gaspar would only accept the babe as a king if he proved it. Others accepted him as someone else’s king, but not theirs. These people seem to have no shortage of spiritual descendants today. But Balthazar, at least in our story today, made him King, and he, too, has no shortage of spiritual descendants. I hope you will, too.

LITANY OF COMMITMENT

LEADER: Who among us will celebrate Christmas right?

PEOPLE: Those who finally lay down all their power, honor, and prestige,

LEADER: All their vanity, pride, and self will . . .

PEOPLE: At the manger.

LEADER: Those who stand by the lowly . . .

PEOPLE: And let God alone be exalted.

LEADER: Those who see in the child in the manger the glory of God precisely in this lowliness.

PEOPLE: Those who say along with the shepherds, . . .

LEADER: "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened."

ALL: THOSE WHO ARE DRAWN BY THE MANGER.

--Taken from the poem, "Celebrating Christmas" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Mystery of the Holy Night, New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1996, p. 17), by Rev. Candace McKibben, East Hill Baptist Church.